TO anyone unaware of the infamous Shitbox Rally, the scene at Penrose Park in Silverton on Friday evening might have seemed bizarre.
Hundreds of cars decorated in outlandish themes descended on the campgrounds, with their drivers dressed up as farm animals.
At Mundi Mundi Lookout, one team watched the sunset while drinking a ‘shooey’ (a beer drunk from a shoe), and another team cycled on their bicycles attached to the roof of their car.
The travellers were a part of the annual Canberra to Townsville Shitbox Rally, which sees 500 people in teams of two traverse the dusty, unsealed roads of the Outback in cars they bought for less than $1500.
Cars must be two-wheel-drives, to add to the challenge and risk of the journey, and teams must raise $5000 to participate, with sponsors branding the cars.
A car decorated to resemble Thomas the Tank Engine blew smoke out of the bonnet, and another car belonging to a team dubbed ‘Bogan Life,’ played Australian pub-rock music from a giant beer can speaker attached to the roof.
On only day two of the trip, drivers were still feeling energised and excited for the cross-country road-trip, though said their redirection through Ivanhoe’s back roads, rather than Menindee due to road closures, had slowed them down.
The rally’s fundraising goal is set to $2.5 million and teams have already reached the $2 million mark.
The Box Rally organisation, formed by James Freeman after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other, is the leading individual fundraiser for Cancer Council, having raised over $54.5 million to cancer research.
Mr Freeman said teams from throughout the country participate in each Shitbox Rally event.
“The rally draws teams from around the country to help achieve the extraordinary,” he said.
“Many have been affected by cancer in one way or another, whether it be family, friends, or themselves personally.
“The rally not only wants to raise awareness and money for Cancer Council, but also offers support and a friendly ear to those that have suffered or are suffering.”
The route saw the teams stay in Hay on night one, Silverton the second, carrying on up into Bourke, Mitchell, Barcaldine, Hughenden and ending in Townsville on Saturday.
